Romania’s ambassador to Singapore Aurelian Neagu informed Singapore’s Foreign Ministry of the steps taken by the Romanian authorities for a lawful investigation of former Romanian envoy to Singapore Silviu Ionescu blamed for a hit-and-run accident in December, Romania’s Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Neagu reiterated Romania's commitment to uphold proceduresneeded to clear out all aspects related to the case and stressedthat all the public statements made by Ionescu regarding this casewere his personal standpoint and did not represent an officialstance of the Romanian Foreign Ministry or the Romanianauthorities, the ministry said in its press release Friday.

Considering the criminal charges brought against Ionescu by theRomanian General Prosecutor's Office, Ionescu was suspended fromhis diplomatic duties within the Romanian Foreign Ministry underthe provisions of article 60 of Law 269/ 2003 regulating theStatute of Romania's Diplomatic and Consular Corps.

Neagu also underscored that the Romanian authorities wanted tofully abide by the law and international procedures in dealing withthis case.

According to the press release, on January 5, 2010, the ministrysubmitted a request to the General Prosecutor's Office toinvestigate the accident on December 15, 2009 in which a vehicle ofthe Romanian diplomatic mission in Singapore was involved. OnJanuary 6, 2010, the Prosecutor's Office set off the criminalprosecution against Ionescu, at the ministry's request.

On January 11, 2010, judicial authorities in Singapore wereasked to provide all available accident-related data. The requestwas submitted via international police cooperation networks,namely, the Romanian Interpol Office and the Singapore InterpolOffice, respectively, according to the press release.

On January 26, 2010, the Romanian Foreign Ministry providedinformation to Interpol Singapore on whether Romanian judicialauthorities are entitled to probe, try and sentence Romaniancitizens for crimes committed abroad, the press release also read.

On January 29, 2010, Interpol Singapore offered additionalinformation to the Romanian General Prosecutor's Office and saidmore information would be provided only in keeping with theinvestigations that were to be unfolded by the Singapore Coroner'sCourt.

On February 2, 2010, the Romanian General Prosecutor's Officeindicted Ionescu for negligent homicide, fleeing the scene of theaccident and false statements. In consequence, Ionescu wassuspended from his diplomatic duties within the Romanian ForeignMinistry, under the Romanian law, until the end of theinvestigation. Singapore' authorities were duly informed, the pressrelease also noted.

Romania's Embassy Chargé d'Affaires attended the Coroner'sInquiry proceedings unfolded between March 3 and March 10, 2010.Various documents were handed to him informally to betterunderstand the legal proceedings. No reference was ever made thatthe said documents were meant to be an official response to theabove -mentioned requests of the Romanian Justice Minister,therefore, they could not be considered as such under theinternational procedures, the press release also read.

On March 16, 2010, Singapore's Justice Ministry issued apreliminary answer assuring the Romanian General Prosecutor'sOffice that Singapore's authorities are ready to work closely withthe Romanian General Prosecutor's Office throughout the criminalinvestigations, while observing Singapore's laws.

Singapore's Police sent to Interpol Romania an internationalarrest warrant against Ionescu who is held responsible for a fatalhit-and-run accident in Bukit Panjang, people close to the mattersaid Thursday.

According to the Vienna Convention regarding diplomaticrelations, a diplomat enjoys immunity from the criminaljurisdiction of the receiving state, which does not exempt therespective diplomat from the jurisdiction of the sending state.

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